Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-24
An Important discovery a, siaou.

About mile northeast of the city,
in an open field above the line OF the
gardens, was found shaft, open at the
top, about thirty feetsquare and thirty
five or forty feet deep. When this was
excayated doors were found on the four
sides of the perpendicular walls leading
80 as many chambers. Entering the
south one first. we found it about fiji
teen feet square, cut out OF the solid
rock. roof and sides all of rock.
but a built wall between it and
the court of shaft. Entering, two
sarcophagi met the eye, the one
on the right of black marble highly
polished, with lid of peaked shape, very
little ornament: the one on the left o.
purest white marble of dazzling bril-
fancy and enormous size. Remember
ing that we saw these only by the flick
ering light of candle, and III an ct
mospherc so dense with carbonic-acld
gas that q candle held near the bottom
went out and that one soon became
faint, it will be easy 20 see that gueSses
at measurements may be very faulty.
his sarcophagus was eleven feet
lorc, five feet wide, and twelve feet
high. The body was Of one piece, and
also tie top Of another solid block.
The top was n grand arch Of shining
marble, the front of which was divided
hy line into two panels, aud 50 tue
back. at the four sides were four pro-
lotions with noble lions heads On
each renpl wssa symbOiicaI figure, body
Of animal. head OF eagle, with upIifted
WINGS, facing each other. Below on the
front OF the tomb, beneath Il very cls-
Emate COlnice, We're two CentaurS
facing each other and trampling on
warrior who strOve to defend himself
hv shield. On the sides, which we-c
alike, were first two human figures with
four spirited horses ahead of tdem
some Of the horses have their heal,
TUNED back and beneath the horse,
feet lion on the one side and q bo3r
or hyena On the other then two more
figures with four more horses.
At the back, in the upper part, were
figures. bodies Of birds, heads OF men
iii remember aright with beautifully
extended wings; below, two Centnurs
carrying captured stag between them.
The cloaks falling from the shoulders
of these Centaurs had lions heads in
the corners. One Ccntaur carries the
branch of tree like a gigantic arrow
upon his shoulders. Below these figures
all around was a band of figures quite
small and exquisitely cut, representing
hunting scenes, etc. This was partly
covered with stones, so that we could
not see it. The workmanship of this
was good, but not remarkable. A hole
had been broken in the front through
which the contents had been rilcd. but
in general il was in fine state of pre-
scrvation. Three skeletons and five
dogs heads. From the long noses OF
the latter it is easy to infer they were
hunting dogs.
The east chamber had also two sarco-
phagi-one small and plain, but on the
left, while the larger one was on the
night. This was the finest thing 1 re-
member to have seen in stone. 4 Greek
temple, formed of finest marble, tran
slucent as alaboster. The roof is slant
ing and carved to represent flat tiles,
with strips OF metal covering the joints
End pretty carved knobs where these
STRIPS cross the ridge. It the ends OF
Tic ridges are carved ornaments. The
sides OF the sarcophagus rise up above
the caves.
On the upper projections was a repre-
sentation Of the funeral procession
mourning women, two horses without
saddles or trappings, bat with men
walking 10y them. A chariot with four
lorscs, man III the chariot, then four
more horses drawing the funeral-car,
more figures. In front three figure
aEcve and three On Il strip below. al
symbolizing gIicf. This top is all o'
one piece, and has the riga
UPPER corner broken open H.
order to rife the tomb. I'll
trcat beauty was the body of the tenn
pie, with a porch of columns all about
1t; and in the porch between these
stood eighteen statues, Gbout three feet
in height, not discolored nor touched
hy dirt, SO beautiful az if finished yes
tcrday, of the finest art, muscles and
form showed through the drapery.
Each one of these eighteen would be a
gem of itself-not a scratch nor q flaw
anywhere. All the carving on this
temple, cornices, friezes, columns,
oic., in perfect lines, as perfect
and sharp as could be wished. Be
low is band covered with representa-
tons OF hunting scenes, etc. The i'm
perfect view We could get of this was
enough to fill us with enthusiasm. !
cannot describe all the details--dragons,
dogs heads, mourners, etc. tlirty
human figures above this band, etc.
North room, plain sarcOphagus.
West room has four sarcophagi, which
| have not yet seen.
/ forgot to say that this temple has
painted figures-clCaks, flowers, eyes
with black pupils; paint mostly now
some. West room is said to be the